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S1 1990 (Volume 68)
Quarterly Article
Jeanne Brooks-Gunn
Frank F. Furstenberg
Oct 14, 2026
September 2026
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The existing discrepancies between adolescent and societal constructions of teenage sexuality in America are further exacerbated by AIDS. Male and female teenagers receive different and often conflicting messages about sexuality from diverse sources; their parents’ lack of frankness about sexual intercourse contrasts sharply with the media’s emphasis on sex and with highly rationalistic discussions about sexuality in schools, complicating adolescents’ decisions about entering and continuing sexual relationships. Survey research indicates that not all teenagers engaging in sexual intercourse reduce risks of HIV infection as much as they might. While AIDS has prompted many teenagers to change their sexual behavior, serious questions remain about adolescents’ conceptions of the dangers of unprotected sex.
Author(s): Jeanne Brooks-Gunn; Frank F. Furstenberg
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Volume 68, Issue S1 (pages 59–84) Published in 1990